INAUGURAL MEETING 11 



These figures show a great variance in results. Why is it? Are 

 our exhibitions fully advertised? Are they made to satisfy popular 

 demand? These are questions which can be well considered with a 

 view to swelling our treasury return from this natural source of 

 revenue. 



The membership of the Society should be larger. We should 

 attract members from all over the State, and this would afford not 

 only increased dues but added interest in the work of the Society. 

 In 1914, the Trustees directed the Treasurer to apply S25.00 of 

 each Life Membership fee to the Permanent Funds of the Society 

 which is certainly right. At present we have 773 Life Members 

 and 161 Annual Members. We should increase our membership 

 by at least 100 a year. In 1871, this Society had a membership 

 of 1035. 



In 1914 the Trustees also directed the Treasurer to apply one- 

 half the receipts from Mt. Auburn to the Permanent Funds. 

 This certainly should be continued for the reason that the lands 

 from which our Society receives a portion of the sale price are fast 

 being sold and we should try to establish a fund from which the 

 Society will get a return after these lands are all sold and revenue 

 from this source ceases. 



It is interesting to note at this time that the enterprise shown 

 by this Society in purchasing in 1831, two years after its organiza- 

 tion, the land at Mt. Auburn for the purpose of an experimental 

 garden and rural cemetery, although it proved to be not practical 

 from an operating standpoint, did, however, prove to be one of the 

 most fortunate things our Society ever undertook from a financial 

 standpoint, we having realized a constant revenue from the sales 

 of the land since the property was turned over to the Proprietors 

 of the Cemetery in 1835. 



When one comes to consider the expenditures, it is hard to under- 

 take to say where we can best make a saving. We must practice 

 general economy hoping that by so doing we will in no way curtail 

 good results. The annual expenditure for the Library seems to me 

 small, as compared with other expenditures, and I mention this as 

 it would not seem to me advisable to attempt to curtail on Library 

 expense. 



I believe we can reduce the amount appropriated for money 



